Pesticides in soil, groundwater and food in Latin America as part of one health

HILBER, ISABEL; BAHENA-JUÁREZ, FERNANDO; CHIAIA-HERNÁNDEZ, AUREA C.; ELGUETA, SEBASTIÁN; ESCOBAR-MEDINA, ARTURO; FRIEDRICH, KAREN; GONZÁLEZ-CURBELO, MIGUEL ÁNGEL; GROB, YAEL; MARTÍN-FLEITAS, MARISLEYDIS; MIGLIORANZA, KARINA S. B.; PEÑA-SUÁREZ, BRIZEIDI; PÉREZ-CONSUEGRA, NILDA; RAMÍREZ-MUÑOZ, FERNANDO; SOSA-PACHECO, DAYANA; BUCHELI, THOMAS D.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Springer

Año: 2024

We here report of a conference about “Pesticides in Soil, Groundwater and Food in Latin America as part of One Health”that took place at the “IV Seminario Internacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (SISA)” in Varadero, Cuba, 8–12 May 2023.Researchers of Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico) and Switzerland (workshopinitiator) held presentations about occurrence and effects of pesticides on the environment, human health, the replacementof highly hazardous pesticides (HHP) by agroecological alternatives and the agri-food value chain. In a subsequent roundtable discussion, the presenters identified deficits, needs, interests and opportunities. According to them, the lack of awarenessof pesticide use affects the health and safety of workers applying the chemicals. Despite Latin America representingthe main agricultural area in the world with a very intense pesticide use, monitoring data of pesticides in soil, surface andgroundwaters, food, as well as in humans are missing. Risks of pesticides to humans should be assessed so that authoritiescan withdraw or limit within “short time” the access to corresponding formulations on the market. Also, communicationis not state of the art and should be improved as, e.g. the teaching of workers and farmers, how to correctly use and applypesticides or the briefing of decision makers. Pollinators suffer from multiple stressors not the least due to pesticides, andalternatives are badly needed. On the technical side, the different analytical methods to determine residues of active ingredientsand transformation products in matrices of concern should be harmonized among laboratories.Seven future actions and goals were identified to overcome the above deficits. Next steps after the publishing of this conferencereport are to harmonize and complete the information status of the presenters by exchanging the results/data alreadypresent. Therefore, a platform of interaction to address issues described above and to enhance collaboration shall be created.Samples of different matrices shall be exchanged to harmonize the chemical analysis and establish interlaboratory comparisons.Such activities might be facilitated by joining international associations or organizations, where researchers can offertheir expertise, or by forming a new pesticide network for Central and South America that could present tailored projects tonational and international organizations and funding agencies.